Toothbrush



July 23, 1940.

A. Y. RUSSELL 9,173

TOOTHBRUSH Filed Dec. 22, 1936 Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application December 2 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved form of toothbrush for cleaning and polishing all the surfaces of the teeth and for massaging the gums. Some tooth surfaces are exposed and are practically immune to the ravages of tooth decay, while the grooves, fissures and the approximal contact surfaces are susceptible.

None of the conventional types of toothbrushes, with round bristles, cleanse and polish these susceptible areas properly. The round bristles can cleanse only that portion of the tooth surface which its round surface contacts. However, when a round toothbrush bristle, of a given diameter, is reduced to a fiat bristle it will contact, cleanse and polish many times as much tooth surface.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a side view of a toothbrush assembled in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken adjacent the base of the bristles;

Fig. 3 shows a step in the assembly of the bristles;

Fig. 4 is an end view of an elongated tuft of bristles in assembled position after the flattening operation;

Fig. 5 is a view of three elongated tufts of bristles contacting at their outer edges.

In a preferred form of the invention a toothbrush head and handle I0 is provided with three sets of elongated tufts of flat bristles l arranged across the brush head and two sets of shorter elongated tufts of flat bristles 2 arranged essentially at right angle to and in alternate position with the three sets of cross elongated tufts of bristles.

The flat type of bristles are arranged in flat continuous elongated tufts of bristles instead of ordinary bunches of bristles forming tufts, so as to properly cleanse and polish the interdental areas which are more susceptible to tooth decay, and at the same time stimulate the gums by side massage action which increases its tone and prevents pyorrhea. Flat bristles will penetrate more deeply into grooves, fissures and the susceptible interdental spaces than the round bristles by virtue of their wedging action and thereby increase brushing efliciency. As disclosed in Fig. l, I represents a continuous center elongated tuft of flat bristles with elongated tufts of bristles on each side of the center elongated tuft of bristles to afford support, and to more properly fill in the interdental spaces to polish caries susceptible tooth areas and massage the gums.

As further disclosed in Fig. 1, 2 represents similar elongated tufts of smaller and shorter bristles 2, 1936, Serial No. 117,189

placed essentially at right angles to the first set of elongated tufts of bristles, for the purpose of cleansing and polishing the exposed surfaces of the teeth and for massaging the adjacent portion of the gum.

To produce flat bristles and retain them in their flat position it is necessary for them to be clamped into flat continuous elongated tufts of bristles as disclosed in Fig. 4 and subjected to the flattening operation prior to their being placed 10 into the head of -the toothbrush at the proper position and at the proper inclination to the center row as indicated in Fig. 5.

The bristles are anchored by folding them substantially at their midpoint about a pin 5, insert- 15 ing the folded bristles and pin in a U-shaped metal strip 6 and thereafter clamping the strip about the pin and bristles. This forms a secure attachment for the bristles and also keeps them in a continuous flat elongated tuft. The bristles 20 now may be flattened on two sides and are then ready to be placed in the brush head. The flattening operation may be carried out in any desired manner; for example, the bristles may be flattened by placing a continuous elongated tuft 25 of bristles on a plane surface and subjecting the bristles to the action of a grinding tool. This action is continued until the round side of the bristle has been removed and a flattened side formed thereon as indicated in the views shown in 30 Figs. 1 and 4. The continuous elongated tuft of bristles may then be turned over and the above operation carried out on the reverse side thereof.

In this specification and claims, when the term elongated tuft, or a similar term, is used a dis- 85 tinction must be made between that term and what is ordinarily known as tuft of bristles, or bulk of bristles. Elongated rows of bristles as herein set forth as described consist of flat bristles in elongated rows as heretofore described and 40 set forth in the claims, and may be flattened en masse in such rows by flattening the rows against a flat grinding surface, first on one side and then the other side of the bristles.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim to be new, and on which I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A toothbrush having an elongated tuft of bristles in contact with each other at their outer ends, the outer sides of the bristles being flattened to provide sides inclined to the longitudinal axis of the bristles, forming an elongated tuft of bristles having flattened faces on opposite sides tapering to a flat end edge.

2. A toothbrush having a plurality of tufts as groups comprising a centrally located elongated vertical tuft of flat bristles and outer tufts of flat bristles inclined towards said central tuft to form an inverted V-shaped brushing surface.

4. A toothbrush having tufts of flat bristles as claimed in claim 1, said tufts being assembled in a plurality of groups, each of said groups comprising a centrally located elongated vertical tuft of flat bristles and outer tufts of flat bristles inclined towards said central tuft, said groups being alternately positioned transversely and longitudinally of the brush head.

5. In a brush, a plurality of elongated tufts of flat bristles, the sides of each tuft being tapered for a considerable distance along the bristles to form a sharp outer edge in contact with similar edges of the other tufts inclined thereto.

6. A bristle adapted for use in a toothbrush comprising a body portion of a hard. resilient character having flat surfaces on opposite sides thereof, said surfaces meeting each other at the outer end of said bristle thus forming a bristle having substantially flat sides extending over a major portion thereof, whereby uniform action 1ciigdbendingand stiifening in cleaning action is each tapering towards their outer free end which ends contact with each other.

ALLII. Y. RUSSMI.

L's toothbrush having an elongated tuft of 

